The Last of Us: Season 2’s cast is expanding with the addition of Kaitlyn Dever and Young Mazino. Dever has been tapped to play Abby, The Last of Us Part II’s second, playable protagonist, while Mazino will be playing Jesse, a friend of Ellie’s who meets his untimely demise in the original PlayStation game from Naughty Dog. Production for the second season of The Last of Us will begin in February ahead of its premiere, which is set for 2025.
Dever’s recent credits:
- Good Grief
- No One Will Save You
- Next Goal Wins
- Rosaline
- Ticket to Paradise
- Dopesick
Mazino’s recent credits:
- SZA: Snooze
- Trinity’s Triumph
- Beef
- Good Boy
- Drama High
Quotes:
- “Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material,” said co-creators/writers/executive producers/ directors Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. “Nothing matters more than talent, and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro, Bella and the rest of our family.”
- “Young is one of those rare actors who is immediately undeniable the moment you see him,” Mazin and Druckmann said in a later statement. “We’re so lucky to have him, and we can’t wait for the audience to see Young shine in our show.”
Coverage:
Dever’s name emerged as the frontrunner for the role soon after the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike in November. She eventually closed a deal with HBO, which is co-producing the series with Sony Pictures Television.
Mazino will plays Jesse, a pillar of his community who puts everyone else’s needs before his own, sometimes at terrible cost. In The Last of Us Part II game, which the TV series’ second season is based on, Jesse is portrayed by Stephen Chang. Dever plays another character from the The Last of Us game sequel, Abby.